Catamenial bandage



May 17, 1932.

M. c. ANDREWS CATAMENIAL BANDAGE Original Filed May 18, 1928 ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MONA. C. ANDREWS, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS CATAMENIAL BANDAGE Application filed May 18, 1928, Serial No. 278,743. Renewed May 8, 1931.

This invention relates to catamenial bandages and the invention has for its object to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth for absorbing menstrual discharges without soiling the clothing.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth a bandage having a maximum amount of adsorptive capacity without increasing the discomfort of the wearer.

Further objects of the invention are to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth a device for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, thoroughly efiicient for its intended use, soft, pliable, comfortable, with the minimum of bulk, conveniently carried in the pocket or purse for emergency, comparatively inex pensive to manufacture and convenient for destruction after use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of a novel construction, combination and arran ement of parts, as hereinafter more speci cally described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a top plan view broken away illustrating a bandage in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectionon line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line'33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 5 illustrating a modified form of the bandage.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the modified form with the protecting element re moved.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of still another modified form of the bandage in accordance with this invention.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawmgs in detail, 8 denotes a flexible absorbent, pad formed of fibrous cotton or like fibrous material of suitable length, width and thickness adopted for absorbing and retaining menstrual discharges for a period of time. The absorbent pad is substantially oval-shape whereby the rounded corners as at 9, prevent undue rubbing against the body which would otherwise occur with sharp corners, and fur thermore said rounded corners reduces the possibility of causing wrinkles, both of which are very annoying to the wearer.

The absorbent pad is Superimposed upon protecting element or member 10 of like shape and coextensive therewith. The member is made from a flexible material such as sheet rubber, rubberized cloth or other suitable material which is impervious to the menstrual discharge. The marginal portion throughout of the sheet, of which element 10 is formed is folded, as at 11 upon and Secured to that face thereof against which the pad is positioned. The fold 11 provides one face of the element 10 with a shallow pocket of less area than the pad. The pocket is for the purpose of receiving a portion of the pad, when pressure is applied to the latter, when the bandage is worn to prevent the shifting of the pad relative to the element 10. The exposed edges of the hem grip the fibrous material of the pad. while the slightly raised hem provides a shoulder both of which taken together form a marginal anchor that materially increases cohesion between the pad and member and thereby minimizes the possibiL ity of the pad and member being displaced from each other.

dinally upon a substantially rectangular gauze covering designated generally at 12. The covering material may be gauze, cheese cloth or any other suitable foraminous absorbent material. The width of the covering is such as to provide two layers or laps 13 and 14 when folded over on top of the pad and protecting element. The length of the covering material should be longer than the length of the pad so as to provide attaching extensions 15 and 16 at the ends of the band- The pad and element are placed longitu- :fe and adjacent the ends of the pad and ement when the covering material 1s folded about the pad. The extensions will be formed of three plies of the covering material and 5 serve as front and rear attaching means when the bandage is in position upon the wearer. -Referring in detail to the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 9 the numeral 17 desi ates an absorbent pad 10 which is similar in orm, shape and material as the pad 8. The-covering material designated generally at 18 is similar in structure and form to the covering material 12 and is folded about the pad 17 in a similar manner to form the layers or laps 19 and 20 which are similar to the laps or layers 13 and 14. Furthermore the bandage is provided with attaching extensions 20 and 21 at the ends thereof of like form and material as the .extensions 15 and 16.

The covering 18 is split transversely on the bottom side and centrally of the pad 17 to provide a pair of slits 22 and 23. The opposite ends of the protecting member 24 are inserted through each of adjacent slits and said'ends are pulled tight on the inner side of the covering until they conform with the ends of the pad. In this position the pad 17 r is superimposed upon and is coextensive. with the member 24 with the exception of a lap 25 which has a short section of covering material intervening between the slits 22 and 23. The la 25 secures the member 24 in place,

and a em 26 similar to hem 11 anchors the i said member and the pad together, thereby providing a securing means for both the pad and protecting member.

Referrin in detail to themodified form shown in igure 7, the pad 28 is similar in sha e, material and structure to absorbent pa s 8 and 17. The covering member desig-' nated generally at 29 is similar in material and shape with member 12 and is folded around the pad 28 with the layers or laps 30 and 31 on the top thereof similar to the laps 13 and 14. The difference between the two structures being that the protecting member 32, similar in material, form and structure with'members 10 and 24, is positioned beneath the pad 28 but outside of the initial covering member 29. A second covering member 33 similar in every way with the initial covering member is then folded about 5 the protecting element 32, the initial covering element 29 and the pad 28 forming laps on the top thereof34 and 35. which are superimposed on laps 30 and 31.

The attaching extensions of the initial covering member are folded within the extensions of the second covering member whereby. an extension of six plies of material is provided. Both the extensions on this modified form are similar in every way with the ex- 35 tensions 20, 21 and 15 16 except-the initial 4 5 and 6 tour to and coextensi e with said extension is folded withinthe second extension.

In the agiplication of the bandage, the u per face 0 t e pad is positioned transverse y of the crotch o the wearer next to the menstruating parts with the impervious member exterior thereof. .The attaching extensions are secured to the underclothing or band rovided forthe purpose. Whenthe ban age has absorbed its capacity it is removed and the covering materlal is-unfolded preparatory to discarding the absorbent pad and covering. The rotecting element is removed and may e cleaned and inserted in the bandage and substituted while the remainin parts may be destroyed. It is more desirab e to have an extra protecting element so as to have one dry for substitution while the other is being cleansed. The impervious protecting element being on the exterior side of the bandage prevents seepage of the disdischar e upon the clothing in near proxim-- pad and .element to provide extensions forattachin the bandage with the wearer, said element aving an overlapping hem coextenslve with the perimeter thereof to provide a shoulder forming to retard'movement of the pad relative to said element, and said' covering provided with s aced transverse.

slitsl for interconnecting sald element therewit.-

2. A catamenial bandage comprising a flat, flexible, absorbent pad of oval outline, a flexible, impervious protecting element opposing one face of said pad, corresponding in conad, an overlapping, flexible covering enclosing said pad and element, said covering projecting from the opposite, ends of said pad and element to provide extensionsv for attaching the bandage to the wearer, said element having that face op osing said pad provided with a shallow poc et. to receive a portion of the pad, when pressure is. appliedv to the later when the bandage is worn to prevent'the shifting of the pad relative to said element.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

MONA C. ANDREWS. 

